It depends on the dishwasher. I have a client who has a nice new dishwasher that I don't need to rinse, I just scrape the chunks. But my own dishwasher, I rinse well because it sucks.
this post was submitted on 29 Apr 2026
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Asklemmy
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What no one is mentioning is that it highly depends on what type of system your pipes lead to. If you're on a sewer system with newer pipes you're ok with letting it fly dirty mostly. If you're at an older house with cast-iron pipes and a septic system it's best to wipe them off. I just use a spatula when I'm done eating and wipe it off into the trash. My systems a little different with a monster of a grease trap that I don't want to have to get pumped again anytime soon so probably more picky about it than others.
Same kinda thing goes for garbage disposals, don't put food down it if you're on septic. Then again it all depends on amount of usage and if you mind paying to pump it sooner.
Only if there are big chunks that would clog the filter. Otherwise there is a pre-wash, put some dishwasher soap in the little box and sprinkle some into the door so the pre-wash has an easier time dissolving and washing away fats.
There is a filter in the bottom of the dishwasher. Its purpose is to collect large particles of food or whatever is being washed so it doesn't clog your drain.
If you're constantly putting really dirty dishes in your dishwasher you should find that filter, twist it out and rinse it off. It's probably full of nastiness. That nastiness is part of your routine dishwasher cycle until you empty the filter. It might be the reason all your glass is cloudy instead of clear and looking new.
To answer the original question though, I wash the dishes and use the dishwasher as a santizer to clean what I've missed.
100% this! I can smell that nastiness on other people's cups, glasses, and plates too. Especially if they cook a lot with egg.
No. Stop doing that and what Technology Connections videos on dishwashers.
I have a brand new dishwasher that can still leave residue or food stuck on dishes or silverware if they sit long enough to dry out. Just because Technology Connections said something in a YouTube video doesn't mean it's a universal truth.
Less soap
Preheat water
Rinse aid (there has to be a non commercial replacement for this but i haven't researched yet)
Open it when done (moisture needs a place to go)
Even after adding a dash of powder detergent to the pre-rinse (by just tossing some in)?
You can also eliminate mineral build-up from hard water by adding a cup of white vinegar to a cup or dish in the top rack (left facing up).
Different person, but yes, even after watching the TC video. I preheat the water too. And it's a fairly recent Miele dishwasher.
Rinsing the dishes definitely helps cut down on this, though. And occasionally checking the filter at the bottom. A little rinsing goes a long way, I've found.
My dishwasher has a thing for expensive "rinse aid" they think I'm going to put in there. Vinegar works great!
Unless your landlord won't replace your 20 yr dishwasher that has broken down 3 times.
I've had my current dishwasher for at least 15 years. Replaced a few grommets for the top spinning arm and its still chugging away like a champion.
The print on the front has been re written in perminant marker (so we know which blinding blue led corresponds to which mode) but honestly couldn't ask for much more in an appliance.
From memory it was on special for maybe $200. Wife wants to replace it but I don't have the heart to let it go just yet.
I just want my landlord to install something other than subflooring in my kitchen.
Or replace the drywall that's covered in black mold.
A fridge that isn't 40 years old would've been cooler.
Maybe a stove replacement for the one that nearly caught an electrical fire 4y ago.
Maybe for the cost of all of the repairs this place needs i should just offer to buy it and evict the upstairs neighbors
It's like we live in the same house! I love meeting others who are getting fucked sideways as well.
I love Alex but he just didnβt get those plates dirty enough. For some things you just need to rinse beforehand.
Also dishwashers are huge, and then as I don't have like 50 plates that it would take to fill one I would need to get a lot more of those. Probably the same for spoons and forks. Would take over a week to fill it too.
Then it still doesn't help me from cleaning because of all the things that are not washable in a dishwasher. Plus the plates are the easy part and least in need of automating.
You can get smaller dishwashers. They make some very compact ones.
And it's not a hard and fast rule but... If it's not machine washable, it usually remains on the shelf.
I like wood chopping boards and cast iron pans. Neither should be machine washed unless you like damaging them unnecessarily. As I am cleaning those by hand, adding a couple of plates isn't really much extra effort.
I am European, and cast iron is not used much here (outside of dutch ovens obviously), and neither is carbon steel. To be completely honest, on this side of the altantic we are all a little puzzled as to why y'all like cast iron so much.
I have one non-stick pan for omelettes and fish, a seldom used dutch oven for stews, and I can do everything else with straight stainless steel so it all goes in the wash (except the valve of my pressure cooker).
Even my forged WΓΌsthof knife goes in.
I like my wood chopping board, but rarely use it because of the hassle of cleaning it. Machine-washed plastic boards don't stink, so that's what I use most days.
I am British, I know most shops sell pans that will need to be replaced within a few years at most and can't survive being touched by a metal spoon. But Le Creuset is French, there used to be a British manufacturer of non enamelled pans but they went out of business, not sure who else there is but haven't had a reason to look since as I don't really need any more pans right now.
Maybe a small to medium size pan could be nice to get, got a large, extra large and very tiny one.
Bought myself a 300$ 'portable' dishwasher from my "local big box home improvement store". Fits about a day and a half of dishes, up another half day depending. Runs in 1.5h and right off my tap so no dedicated installation.
I invested another 100 in a flat topped utility/tool cart and set it up on that so i can wheel it out of my kitchen when i am not using it.
My wife approved.
Scrape any solids off, the rest is the actual job of the dish washer.
However from observation the next problem is people being completely oblivious to how to load it correctly.
Also modern kitchen energy efficient units detect how dirty the water is and will cut the cleaning cycle short if the initial cycle is too clean.
OK, I also saw that Technology Connections video...
BUT counter point: I rinse, scrape, wipe stuff off of the dishes before loading, but not because I don't think the dishwasher can't handle it. Rather, I don't want crap to accumulate inside of the dishwasher. Cleaning the filter and other parts with a ton of crap is disgusting, so I'm trying to minimize the material that goes into the dishwasher.
I just scrape and load. No rinse necessary. Periodically clean the filter in the dishwasher to keep it working optimally.
Depends on how long it'll sit there before I run it.
Depends on what's on them.
It turns out that having a little fat/oil on dishes helps get the whole load clean because of some chemical fuckery I don't understand. Something about the surfactants working better or some such.
So, if it's a little light grease, or something that will dissolve completely (like a smooth condiment), I don't bother. But covid chunks, you gotta get off unless you enjoy digging around in a filter that's clogged and under a puddle of trash filled water
Yep. And the filter is as clean as the day it was installed.
Who wants food chunks flying around the dishwasher?
No, just scrape. And put everything in and run it nightly rather than waste water hand washing the separate items I know I'm going to need first thing in the morning. Empty it while the coffeepot is working. Rinse the filter monthly even if it doesn't appear to need cleaning.
Usually, no. If I'm going to rinse them, then mind as well wash them by hand at that point.
The only things that should never be in the dishwasher are chunks or unfinished stuff.
I don't and I deal with the consequences. I used to live with a roommate that would "rinse" the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher...with soap and water and a sponge. Brother you're just washing the dishes. That's why he used paper plates and utensils all the time.
I basically wash them and then put them in the dishwasher lol
Yes, it's a dish washer, not a garbage disposal.
Scrape and thatβs it. Into the dishwasher.
Only exceptions requiring some extra effort beforehand is wiping off anything that had avocado on it and clearing rice between fork tines.
Never comes clean, at least in my dishwasher.
I had to check and make sure I didn't make this comment and forget about it!
Fucking avocado and white rice...
Rinse/scrape off the big chunks. And fucking corn. Then in it goes.
Exception: if youβre a small household and donβt run the dishwasher every day or two, rinse more so the dishwasher wonβt stink as much before you run it.
Yeah, just a quick rinse tho
No. You should scrape off chunks but you should not rinse them off completely.
Like others I highly recommend seeking the wisdom of Technology Connections on YouTube, but if you prefer reading over video, here is an article from The Spruce that covers the main points.
Yes of course.
Yes. My dishwasher isn't great.
No, I rinse them after hand-washing them.
Yes Iβm not a monster
From what I understand, most dishwasher soap is enzymatic and so the little bits you'd be rinsing off actually help activate the soap and clean better. So it's actually detrimental to rinse. So I've heard, anyway.
Nope
No. Only Lemishine seems to work in my dishwasher though, no matter what's-his-name says.